High-explosive detonator



Feb, 15 1927. A

A. DJlDlcs HIGH EXPLosIvE DETONAOR Filed June 7,. 192e a nbc nto@ Patented F eb. 15, 1927. v

^ .UNITED STATES 1,617,675 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER DJIDIGS, 0F TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ATLAS POWDER COMPANY, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HIGH-EXPLOSIVE DETONATOR.

Application led June 7,

' ing explosives under great depths of water,l

oil or the like, or other conditionswhere the Among the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, characterized by Isimplicity in construction, economy in' manufacture, and reliability in operation.

An important object is to provide, in a device of the character indicated, an assembly having great mechanical strength, thereby preventing injury to any part of the same while it is being transported or handled, previous to firing.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thedetailed description which now follows.

Cil

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of the present invention ;l Fig. 2 yis a central, transverse, sectional vView showing the generalmethod of assembly Fig. 3 1s a transverse sectional view show- 'ing a modified form of joint;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the ring of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 'is a transverse sectional view showing a further 'modification of the invention.

lLike numerals designate corresponding parts in both of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 `and 2, it lwill be observed that the detnator of the present invention comprises, in the main, a shell, 1, a pressure proofplug 2 and packing sleeves 3 and 4. The shell. 1, receives the explosive charge 5, said cl'irge being highly compressed and preferably, though not'necessarily, in the form of a hollow cylinder, to thereby leave a space within which ari-electric :detonator 6 isl adapted to lie. The lead wires 7 and 8 of the electric detonator are united by soldering or other suitable means, indicated at 9and 10, to the flattened ends ofthe metallic conductors 11 and 12. These conductors are insulated, except at their ends, and are held in place in the plug 2 by highly compressed lead, or

lation about the wires.

1926. Serial No. 114,183.

These sleeves may be made of metal, fibre,

phenol resin. or anyother suitable material. rlfhe capability of the rubber or soft metal or pitch to densely pack and conform to the shape of the cavities in the plug 2, coupled with the pressures applied to the packing sleeves in forcing them into place, results in the provision roi a packing which will successfully resist the passage of water, o-il or and 14 are placedin suitthe like, under the very high pressuresencountered in oil wells of great depth. The holes 19 and 2() in the plug 2, through which the wires extend into the shell cavity, are tapered at their ends in order that high external pressures will have a tendency to wedge the insulation into tight packing relVhile the insulation of the wires may be used as indicated I contemplates the employment of the tapered openings in conjunction with any kind of enlarged packing projection or protub-erance on the lead in wires to effect a tight joint under the infiuence of external pressure. External pressure on the sleeves will also tend to force said/sleeves more tightly into compressing engagement with the packing. The metallic conductors or lead wires 11 and 12 extend through the metal sleeves 3 4and 4 a distance of approximately 3 feet 4from the outer ends of the sleeves and are baied and tinned at their outer ends for a4 distance of about 3 inches.

The pressure proof plug 2 is united with the shell 1 by means of a fine V thread. In

practice I prefer to make the pressure plug of ordinary soft brass or of. a metal similar .to fifinerican soft brass which is used extenfer that arrangement, it is to be understood' that the shell may be madev of the softer material and the plug of the harder material, if desired. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated 'a modified form of joint embodying a ring 21 of a metal softer than either the plug 2 or the shell 1 so that when the plug is screwed into place the ring will be caused to conform closely to the surface of the plug and shell between which it is bound, to thereby form a fiuid tight joint which will resist high pressures. In this case the plug and Shell may be made of metals of the 'same degree of hardness, or both plug and shell may be made of the softer material and the ring ma bemade of a harder material.

151,1 Fig. 5 I have illustrated a further modification wherein a single bushing 22 is provided with openings 23 and 24 for the passage of the insulated wires ll'and 12. '[he bushing has a tight fit in the plug 2*L and the lower face of the bushing bears upon a packinr body 14a of lead, rubber, tar or the like, which, (under the compressing action of the bushing when it is pressed into placeand under the further compressing action of high external pressures) is forced into tight engagement with the insulation of the wires. Any of the methods above described for effecting a tight joint between the shell and plug 2, may be resorted to, in connection with Fig. 5.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a metallic casing of such strength as to` resist high fiuid or air pressure, a

charge' of high explosive therein of tubular formation, an electric blasting cap located within the tubular explosive charge, a clo-f sure having threaded engagement with the casing saidv closure being of a different degree of hardness than that from which the casing is made, insulated lead in wires passing through the closure and attached to the blasting cap and means provided in the elosure for creating a fluid and air tight joint about the insulated lead in wires. f

2.v In a high pressure detonator, a closure having an opemng for the passage of a lead wire insulated by a covering of soft material, said opening' being taperingly con- Yin said plug is provided with an opening for the passage of a lead wire, sai opening being taperingly constricted at its lower end and a lead wire having a covering of soft insulating material passing through said opening said insulated material reachin to andengaging the constricted lower eng of said opening so that the insulating material of the wire may have wedging engagement in said opening.

4. In a high pressure detonator, the combination with a detonator casing, a lead wire passing therethrough, a body of packing material about said lead Wire, and a sleeve capable of endwise movement under external fluid pressures, surrounding said wire and bearing upon the packing to compress the latter about said wire.

5. In a high pressure detonator, a shell and plug, a pair of lead wires passing through said plug, packing engaging said wires and a bushinu through which both of said wires pass, sai bushing bearin upon said packing and having a fit in said p ug permitting end- Wise compressing movement of the bushing with respect to the packing.

6. A detonator of the character described comprising a metallic casing of such strength as to resist high fluid pressure, a charge of high explosive therein, a closure plug consisting wholly of an outer portion' and an inner portion of smaller diameter, the inner portion being` threaded into said casing and the outer portionoverhanging said casing and consti-tuting a shoulder adapted to be brought forcibly into vengagement with said casing by the act of screwing the plug into place, said casing and plug being made of materials of dissimilar degrees of hardness, so that as the plug is screwed intol place, a rubbing 'action is exerted by the closure upon the upper end of the casing to deform the same and brinv' about a tight joint between the plug and casing, packing sleeves carried by and exposed to the action of external pressure at the upper end of said closure plug, the sleeves being capable of direct endwlvse movement under the influence of such external pressure 'to thereby compress'the packing about lead Wl'es Passing thrdggh said plug,

Imltestimony whereof he 'aixes his sig' nature. Y

` ALEXANDER DJIDICS. 

